US urges India and Pakistan to “relegate”; Marco Rubio talks with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif

Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed at the White House Cabinet Meeting in Washington on April 30, 2025, as Donald Trump watched. |Picture source: AP

The U.S. State Department said on Tuesday (April 29, 2025) that the U.S. called on India and Pakistan to “not escalate” the tension between them.

State Department spokesman Tammy Bruce said Washington is contacting New Delhi and Islamabad about the situation in Kashmir and told them not to escalate the situation.

The office of Sharif said in a statement that Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif received a call from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday (April 30, 2025). Ms. Bruce has said that Mr. Rubio is expected to speak to the foreign ministers of both countries “as early as possible”.

The statement added that Mr Sharif accused India of “escalating and provocative behavior” and urged the United States to impress India.

Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Wednesday (April 30, 2025) that the country has reliable intelligence and India intends to launch a military strike within the next 36 hours.

The Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A State Council spokesman said Mr. Rubio “encouraged other leaders and foreign ministers to engage with the state on this issue.” She added: “Obviously, we are also monitoring the overall development of the region and we are in touch with the governments of India and Pakistan. We encourage all parties to work together to seek responsible solutions. The world is observing this.”

Ms. Bruce answered the question to comments from Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif that Pakistan “has been doing this dirty work for the United States”, Ms. Bruce said: “The only fact that I’m really ready to discuss here is that the Secretary of State is going to talk to the foreign ministers of both countries.”

“So, as I pointed out, in this case, every day is being taken, in which case the secretary talks directly to his peers in India and Pakistan, it’s good – we expect that he will usually have an impact on the individuals he usually talks to him and certainly with President Donald Trump’s leadership, protesters in India and Pakistan,” Bruce said.

(With Reuters input, AFP)